Garment lacing



oct, 15, 1946.

B. F. PEAsE, JR

GARMENT LACING Filed Feb. 19, 1945 Patented oct. 15, 1946 y UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE 2,409,381 GARMENT LACING Benjamin PeaseQJr., Grafton, Mass.

Application` February 19, 1945, Serial No. 578,692 4 claims. (el. 2 39) 'Ihis invention relates to garments, such as surgical belts, corsets origirdles, in which lacing means is provided to effect changes in the separation of adjacent parts. More specically, my invention relates to garments having a plurality of separate lacing elements which are all attached to common straps or pull members, and which are all tightened by a simple pull on one or both of the straps.

It is obvious that the contours to which such garments are applied vary substantially and that self-adjustment of the angular relationship betweenthe separable parts is most desirable. It is the general object of my invention to provide a lacing of the type described, so constructed that the separable parts may assume different angular relationships and that all of the lacing elements shall be under substantially the same tension, regardless of changes in such angular relationship.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hercinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a portion of a belt embodying my improvements; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view but with the separable parts in a dierent angular relation.

Referring to the drawing, I have shown separable parts B and B' of a belt or girdle or other similar article of apparel. Each part is provided with a pluralityof eyelets I adjacent the free edge thereof, and one ofthe parts may havev an extension l2 to cover the opening between the parts. Each part B and B' also preferably has a stiifening member I4 secured in a pocket l5 adjacent the eyelets I0.

I have also provided a series of separate lacing elements 2| to 26, the free ends of which are al1 iirmly secured to pull straps 3|] and 3| in any convenient manner, as by stitching 32. The lacing element 2| extends from the strap 3|) through an upper eyelet I0 on the part B' and then crosses over to a lower eyelet I 0 on the part B and thence to thestrap 3|. The other lacing elements are similarly disposed, so that the order of the lacing elements is reversed vertically at their points of attachment to the belts 30 and 3| Each lacing element pass-es through an eyelet in one part above the center line and then through an eyelet in the other part which is at a corresponding distance below the center line, so that similarly located lacing elements are equal `in length and are symmetrical in position with respect-to the horizontal center line between the two middle pairs of eyelets.. It will be noted, however, that the lacing elements at greater distances from the center line are of correspondingly greater length.

With the lacing thus constructed, the angular relationship of the parts B and B may be substantially changed, while at the same time all of the lacing elementswill remain under substantially uniform tension.

This will be plainly evident by inspection of Fig. 2, in which the distance from the strap 30 to the upper eyelet in the part B is increased over that shown in Fig. 1, but the distance from the lower eyelet in the part B to the strap 3| is correspondingly decreased. This is also true of each of the other lacing elements, so that the total length of each lacing element between the straps 3|) and 3| remains substantially constant for any usual change in the angular relationship of the parts B and B'.

While the symmetrical arrangement of lacing elements above described is the preferred and most satisfactory construction, substantial advantages may be obtained where there is only minor deviation from a strictly symmetrical arrangement.

The provision of the stiiening members I4 vclosely adjacent the eyelets l0 is of substantial importance, as the angular disposition of the lacing elements as theycross from one part of the belt to the other` would otherwise tend to crumple or fold the belt toward the center line. This tendency is effectively offset by the stiffening members I4.

It will be" understood that the straps 3U and 3| may be passed to the front of the wearer and may be secured in any usual or convenient manner. The number of lacing elements may also be increased or reduced, provided the opposite parts of each lacing element are symmetrically disposed with respect to the center line of the lacing.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim ist 1. In a garment having separable parts, a lacing unit having a plurality of separate lacing elements each having a iirst portion passing through and engaging an eyelet in the free end of one separable part and at one side of a horizontal center line of said garment and each having a second portion passing through and engaging a second eyelet in the free end of the other separable part and at the other side of said horizontal center line and equally spaced therefrom and each having a section extending diagonally between and connecting said rst and second portions, and pull straps to which the ends of all of said lacing elements are secured, whereby the angular relationship of said separable parts may be changed vwhile substantially uniform tension of all of said lacing elements is maintained.

2. In a garment having separable parts, a lacing unitv having a plurality of separate lacing elements each having a rst portion passing through and engaging an eyelet in the free end of one separable part and at one side of a horizontal center line of said garment and each having a second portion passing through and engaging a second eyelet in the free end of the other separable part and at the other side of said horizontal center line and each having a section extending diagonally between and connecting said rst and second portions, a transverse stiiening member mounted adjacent the free end of each separable part, and pull straps to which the ends of all of said lacing elements are secured, whereby the angular relationship of said separable parts may be changed while substantially uniform tension of al1` of said lacing elements is maintained.

`."zl. In a garment having a lacing for determining the spacing of separable parts thereof, the combination with said separable parts, each of which has a transverse row of eyelets adjacent its free end, of a plurality of separate lacing elements, and pull straps to which the ends of all of said lacing elements are secured, each lacing element extending from one pull strap to an eyelet in the opposite separable part and at one side of a. horizontal center line of said garment, thence diagonally to an eyelet in the second separable part at the opposite side of said horizontal center line, and thence to the second pull strap, whereby substantially uniform tension in all of said lacing elements is maintained when the angular relationship of said separable parts and rows of eyelets is changed.

4. In a garment having separable parts, a lacing unit having a plurality of separate lacing elements each passing through and engaging an eyelet in the free end of one separable part and at one side of a horizontal center line of said garment and each passing through and engaging a second eyelet in the free end of the other separable part and at the other sid'e of said horizontal center line, and pull straps to which the ends of all of said lacing elements are secured, whereby the angular relationship of said separable parts may be changed While substantially uniform tension of all of said lacing elements is maintained.

BENJAMIN F. PEASE', JR. 

